Three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in Fordingbridge are spared immediate prison sentences and will instead face further judicial review, according to reports. At sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland states that two of the boys are assessed as posing a “high risk of serious harm” to young females. The sentencing decision also notes that the case is subject to a Court of Appeal review, with the intention of examining whether the non-custodial outcome is appropriate given the judge’s assessment.
Both outlets report that the offences involved rapes of two girls, and that the judge’s remarks focus on the likelihood of serious harm from two of the three defendants. While all three boys are not given jailed terms, the coverage indicates the seriousness of the risk assessment and the existence of an appeal process. The reporting does not provide further detail on the length or type of alternative orders, nor on whether all defendants agreed to the outcomes, but it does confirm that the Court of Appeal review is set to reassess aspects of the sentencing following the judge’s findings.
